KAPALAWAN, SGA-BARMM — August 27, 2026. Civil society organizations (CSOs), local government officials, and representatives of BARMM ministries gathered in Kapalawan, Special Geographic Area (SGA), for a knowledge-sharing engagement and Information Caravan aimed at strengthening community participation, access to government services, and the sustainability of peace and development initiatives.
The activity, organized by the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) with support from the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) and in partnership with the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), highlighted the importance of collaboration among communities, CSOs, government agencies, and development partners.
A major part of the engagement was the presentation of the Second Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) 2023–2028 Midterm Update, which provided participants with an overview of the region’s development priorities and progress. The session also served as a platform for community members and CSOs to provide feedback and raise concerns on education, livelihood, technology assistance, scholarships, skills development, and the utilization of a proposed 150-hectare development area in Kapalawan.
Participants from various associations also explored opportunities to access programs and services from BARMM ministries, including the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Discussions emphasized the need for stronger linkages between community organizations and government programs to ensure that development assistance responds to actual community needs.
One of the significant outcomes of the activity was the organization of the Kapalawan People’s Council, where representatives from 38 community associations elected their officers, followed by the oath-taking led by the Municipal Vice Mayor. The council is envisioned as a mechanism for consolidating community concerns and bringing the voice of organized citizens into local development and governance processes.
Mr. Toto Laguialot, Planning Officer of Kapalawan, emphasized the important role of the council as a bridge between communities and the municipal government, BARMM ministries, government agencies, and development partners. The council is also expected to participate in local special bodies and help community organizations access available government and development support.
Mr. Alimudin Mala of CBCS facilitated the organization of the People’s Council and underscored the importance of strengthening community organizations beyond the life of externally funded projects.
The activity forms part of the PROTECT Peace Sustainability and Scale-up initiative, which promotes institutional ownership, inclusive governance, resilient people’s organizations, and sustainable livelihood development. The initiative seeks to ensure that gains achieved through the project are integrated into regular government programs, strengthened through LGU counterpart support, and sustained through mentoring, financing, enterprise development, and market linkages.
The Kapalawan engagement demonstrated that sustainable peace and development are strengthened when communities are organized, informed, and connected to government institutions and available resources. Through continued convergence and partnership, CSOs and government stakeholders can help ensure that the development aspirations of communities in the SGA are translated into concrete and sustainable actions.
The participation of 38 People’s Organizations, six BMOAs, and the LGUs of Kapalawan and Old Kaabacan reflects the growing interest of communities in taking an active role in local governance and development. Their participation also reinforces the importance of organized citizens as partners in sustaining peacebuilding, livelihood, and community development initiatives in the SGA.
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